Walter Waggoner

Walter Harry Waggoner went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 2, 2016, at the Veterans Home in Boise after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A visitation with family will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

A Celebration of Walt's Life, with military honors, will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home.

Walt was born in Naini Tal, India, on Jan. 3, 1943, to the late Willard and Alice Waggoner. Not long after his first birthday, Walt's father became sick with Malaria.

In the fall of 1944, Walt, his older siblings, Charlotte Lowe and Stanley Waggoner, alongside their parents, traveled out of Bombay, India (now known as Mumbai), on the USS Billy Mitchell to the United States. The family settled in Idaho where Walt welcomed three younger siblings, Donald, Wesley and the late Wayland Waggoner.

Walt graduated from Canyonville Bible Academy and immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force at the ripe age of 17. He proudly served three tours in Vietnam as a Crew Chief and retired honorably after 23 years of service.

Shortly after his retirement in 1984 from the Air Force, Walt started working for the Idaho State Correctional Institution. During his time at the prison, Walt touched many lives with his testimony and the word of God. In 2004, after 19 years of service, he retired and became a full time adventurist.

The military was the love of his life, that is, until he met the woman of his dreams, Betty Strong, in early 1991. Walt and Betty were married Oct. 12, 1991, at the Church of the Wildwood in Featherville, Idaho.

Walt played an active role in the church and loved the Lord with all of his heart. He enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as traveling to Cancun with his wife Betty and their family.

His warm heart and brilliant smile drew people to him. While words will never adequately describe the amazing life Walt lived here on Earth and how much he loved his family and friends, all those who knew him will find comfort in knowing he is at Home and waiting for us in Heaven with open arms.

Walt is survived by his wife, Betty; two children, Vincent Waggoner and Pam Pointer; four stepchildren, Deborah Colvin, Bruce Allan Stong, Kevin Stong and Christina Santel; seven grandchildren, Shawn Stong, Jason Prior, Kammi Stong, Chelsea Deese, Robert John Santel, Sarah Santel and Ryan Stong; and two great-grandchildren, Colt and Lila Deese.